Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship Offers Hope To Address Myanmar Crisis, Says UN Envoy

DAVOS (Switzerland) Jan 22 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s chairmanship of ASEAN offers hope for mitigating the longstanding crisis in Myanmar,  UN Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Myanmar, Julie Bishop, said.

In her address, during an ASEAN Plenary entitled “Even Stronger Together” at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2025 on Wednesday, Bishop highlighted ASEAN’s key role in addressing the crisis. She emphasised the grouping’s neutrality in internal issues while acknowledging its responsibility in seeking peaceful solutions.

She also pointed out that ASEAN had stepped up with its five-point consensus plan, although its implementation has been slower than desired.

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“It is frustrating that the five-point consensus plan has not been implemented in a way, or at a scale and the speed, that we would wish. The situation in Myanmar is deteriorating, but I do see a light at the end of the tunnel, with Malaysia's chairmanship of ASEAN and their new Special Envoy,” she said.

She expressed commitment to work with ASEAN to end to the prolonged humanitarian crisis and fighting, and to bring the transnational crimes in Myanmar under control. 

The session was moderated by WEF President, Børge Brende. Other panellists were Malaysia’s Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Global Chair of Mastercard Michael Miebach, and Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.

Bishop also echoed the call for more robust diplomacy to achieve peace and stability in Myanmar, noting that both ASEAN and the UN could play a pivotal role in bringing the nation back to the global fold.

“Together, ASEAN and the UN can be the bridge-builders, can be the messengers of peace that are so sorely needed in Myanmar.

“I fervently hope that Myanmar will return as a fully functioning member of ASEAN, the region, and indeed, the global community,” she said.

-- BERNAMA